From: "Kimberly " Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 15:05:21 -0000 Subject: xfc: Sunday Goodbyes Source: xfc TITLE: Sunday Goodbyes Takes place 2 years before the events in the "Time Lost" universe but is 4th in the series found at: http://www.geocities.com/kemystre/Kim1013.html can be read as a stand alone AUTHOR: kim1013 E-MAIL: kim1013@netzero.net DISTRIBUTION: Where I send it they can have it. Others please let me know first. SPOILERS: S7, S8, "S.R. 891" RATING: PG CLASSIFICATION: V, S, A, AU, S/Sk friendship/angst, with a special cameo by the LG and a mention of Ratboy! DISCLAIMER: Anyone recognizable doesn't belong to me. SUMMARY: Saying good-bye to an old friend. THANKS: To the wonderful Melissa, as always! Notes at end. *&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&* --November, 2008-- He called me at nine on a Thursday night as I was tucking the twins into bed. "Can we have our Sunday meeting tonight? I need to speak with you. It's urgent." His voice was taut as if straining through clenched teeth. I told him I would have to call the guys to have stay with the kids. As soon as I hung up on him, I did just that. They were at my door within ten minutes. I thanked the trio and hurried out into the bitter-cold air. I braced myself for what was ahead. Had He been found? I was not prepared for what happened next. I met him outside Dalva Place as per our usual arrangement on Sunday afternoons. The place looked different with neon lights reflecting off the windows and snatches of music floating out the doorway as patrons came and went. An older verse caught my attention as a large group of people exited the restaurant: ~~"It's all right to make mistakes, you're only human Inside everybody's hiding something, Staring at the same four walls, Have you tried to help yourself? The rings around your eyes they don't hide, That you need to get some rest"~~ Such somber lyrics to go with up-beat music. "Sir? I'm here," I said, trying to garner his attention as he stared off into the distance. "Agent Scully." Visible puffs of air floated out of Skinner's mouth. "Let's go inside where it's warm." One gloved hand guided me by my shoulder into Dalva. The host seated us in our usual rounded corner booth. We usually talk about Him, the kids, or work and how Doggett is not Him. Sometimes we even talk about Skinner's life. When we're settled into the booth, I looked at him. He looked haggard under the yellow pool of light spilling from the shaded bulb above us as he shrugged off his jacket. He didn't take off his gloves or hat. "Dana, I have to tell you something. It's personal, and I don't know how else to say it without being blunt." He stopped for a while and looked about the room. He wasn't in a hurry. I swallowed. Mulder had not returned yet. I know if He had, Skinner would never have brought me here. I would've been taken right to Mulder's side. Eight years of waiting still have not erased the longing to find him miraculously or have him returned. "Sir, whatever's bothering you, I'm sure we can get through it." I reached across the table and covered his leather-encased hand. "We've supported each other these last eight years. Why would I stop now? I couldn't; even if I had to." Tears gathered in Skinner's eyes. He met my gaze, with light glinting off of his glasses and said something I never expected to hear from him. "Dana, I'm dying. Soon." He removed his hat and gloves. I see now why he kept them on. The tips of his ears and almost the entire length of his fingers were blue. It looked like he was suffering from frostbite. He knew better. I knew better. I felt the blood drain out of my face. I closed my eyes in denial. He continued speaking. "The nanocytes in my system have malfunctioned. I tracked down our... mutual friend a few weeks back when I started feeling ... odd. I wasn't feeling very amiable at the moment and things got rough. He muttered something in Russian and spit in my face. Suffice it to say, he wasn't happy he that he was found. Then he told me he'd not had control of the device for years. He told me They had taken it from his possession the night he tried to kill me." "How do you know they malfunctioned?" I asked. "Did one of Them contact you? Do you want me to have a look at your medical records?" He smiled tiredly at me and rubbed a hand across his forehead. "Right now, I feel okay," A pause. "My extremities are getting number everyday from lack of circulation. I can feel tightness in my chest growing each day. "The guys did a lot of snooping at my request and found They had destroyed the control device around the time Mulder disappeared." By the way Skinner emphasized "they" I knew whom he was talking about. He continued. "I guess with Mulder gone, They felt I was no longer a threat." He took a shaky, short breath and winced. "There's nothing you can do for me." I reached across the table once again and took his too-cool hands in mine. I looked him straight in the eyes and gave him a pledge. "Whatever you need from me, I will provide. Whatever I can do for you, just ask and it will be done. You've been a constant and unfaltering source of support for me all these years. You're very important to me and I want to be there for you as you've been there for me." He nodded and squeezed my hands. He opened his mouth, as if he had more to say, but we were interrupted by the ringing of my digital phone. It was Beyers. Will had woken from a nightmare and wanted his mom -- how like his father. Skinner saw the look on my face and nodded again, this time in understanding. "I'll just give you a heads up before you leave: I'm retiring effective the end of the workday tomorrow. I just want you to hear it from me first," he said. "Go home to your family, Scully." We stood up and hugged. I didn't want to let my friend go. "I'll come to your office first thing in morning, sir, to help you pack. I'll even drag Doggett with me." I gave him a lop-sided, weak smile. "You can bluster at him for one last time and get your fill." After I left the restaurant, I looked back. He had sat back in the booth, staring into a cup of coffee as if would give him some answers. After I rushed home to comfort my son and said goodnight to the guys, I fell into a fitful sleep and was haunted by dreams of death and Him. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I was nearing the four a.m. mark when the phone rang. "'lo?," I mumbled. "Is this Special Agent Dana Scully?" The no-nonsense voice shocked me awake. "Yes it is. How may I help you?" "This is Dr. Darren Witmore at George Washington University Hospital. You were first on the contact list we have for a Mr. Walter Skinner. I'm very sorry to inform you Mr. Skinner died this morning after being admitted at eleven last night for severe chest pains." The doctor continued talking after that but I didn't hear his words. I placed the phone back on it base. The twins were peaking around the doorjamb. Melissa had a worried look on her young face. I motioned for them to join me in bed and they came in silently. I hugged them tightly, crying silently. I held those who lived close to me and mourned for those I could no longer touch. FINIS NOTES: I'm not a medical expert. This is fiction, so the details of Walt's condition are based solely on my imagination's expertise. The song at the beginning of the story is part of "Slide" by Dido found on the "No Angel" CD.